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Going the distance for kids with cancer

In Johannesburg, South Africa in the early ‘70s, a little girl named Walda was diagnosed with a brain cancer. She was five years old and her life was forever changed. Now, 43 years later, in another city, on another continent 15,815 kilometers away, a little girl named Nina was going the distance for Walda and children like her in the Kids Cancer Care Cycle Challenge.

Over the course of a week in 2020, 68 cyclists collectively rode more than 17,000 kilometres and raised $202,000 for Kids Cancer Care. Those numbers soared in 2021 with 133 cyclists riding 35,000 kilometres and raising $331,532. Their fundraising success was supported by generous sponsors such as Peloton Computer Enterprises in both years.

Members of the 2legit2quit team

While little Nina pedalled hard to do 50 kilometres in a week, hardcore cyclist Troy Delfs of the Peloton Racing Club did 500 kilometres. Then, athletic titans like Jared Green do 500 kilometres in a day.

Nine-year-old Nina putting in her kilometers for the Kids Cancer Care Cycle Challenge.

Troy Delfs and the Peloton Racing Club have long supported Kids Cancer Care through Tour for Kids Alberta — a three-day cycling event through the Canadian Rockies. When Tour for Kids Alberta was cancelled in 2020, Kids Cancer Care added the cycle challenge. Although Troy misses the camaraderie of Tour for Kids, he loves the flexibility of the cycle challenge.

“What was nice about this event is you could participate from anywhere, at any time,” says Troy. “We were on a family vacation in the Okanagan and it was completely doable because I could spread the kilometers out over the week and still have time with my family.”

(Foreground) Troy Delfs with cycling buddies (L-R) Lance Hubber and Daniel Poggi.

Nina’s mother Rensché Venter also appreciates the flexible format: “It’s really great to do something like this as a family. Nina was super excited about it. If the format is the same this year, we’ll be back.”

In July 2022, the Kids Cancer Care Cycling Challenge will be back for its third year, running for two weeks from July 9 to 23. Additionally, the first 100 cyclists to raise $1,000 will get to enjoy a fun-filled day at Camp Kindle on Saturday, July 23. For a $75 fee, they can also spend the night at Camp Kindle.

“A two-week event gives the cyclists even more time and flexibility to put in their miles,” says Renee MacTavish, events and community relations manager at Kids Cancer Care. “We added the Camp Kindle experience, because its the one thing the cyclists from Tour for Kids really miss. They miss hanging out together at Camp Kindle.”

“Being out at Camp Kindle reminds all of us why we’re cycling and why we’re fundraising,” says Christine McIver, founder and CEO of Kids Cancer Care who cycles with the Bow City Rollers in the event. “And camp is a lot of fun — especially after two years of COVID.”

The Bow City Rollers cycled the Rotary Mattamy Greenway, supporting local charity (Kids Cancer Care) and local business by staying in Calgary hotels along the way.

Keeping the kids top of mind is also important to Rensché. Growing up in South Africa along side her cousin Walda, Rensché saw firsthand what cancer can do to a child.

When Rensché’s daughter Nina was a toddler, they travelled to South Africa to visit family. That’s when Nina first met her mother’s cousin Walda. Nina was two and Walda was 42. Although the distance between them was vast, when measured in kilometers and age, they bonded instantly. Developmentally, Nina and Walda were somewhat close in age as Walda had experienced significant physical and cognitive delays after cancer. The two of them had a lot of fun together on that holiday.

Nina and Rensché having some laughs with Walda (foreground).

Events such as the cycle challenge offer Rensché teachable moments for her daughter. “I explained to Nina that we were riding for kids like Walda,” says Rensché. “I told her, ‘That’s what happened to Walda. She had cancer as a child.’”

As senior manager of MNP’s Enterprise Risk Services, Rensché also gives back in other ways, providing risk management services at no cost to Kids Cancer Care.

“Kids Cancer Care will always have a special place in my heart because of Walda,” says Rensché. “My mother and Walda’s mother were very close, so we saw each other often and we did a lot together. Walda had balance issues and was often falling. I remember her falling and smashing her head open. I understand the challenges of having a child affected by cancer and what groups like Kids Cancer Care can do for these kids and families.”

Thank you for going the distance for children affected by cancer. Your support makes Camp Kindle programs possible.


What’s better than a 20-hour slow-smoked brisket slider on a barley bun? A 20-hour slow-smoked brisket slider paired with the perfect lager. Nothing beats this combo — except for more ribs and sliders paired with more craft beer. Throw in sunshine and some live indie blues and you have the makings of a perfect summer day. This is Barley & Smoke: Grillin’ for a Cure, a fundraising event for children with cancer that brought together Calgary’s top 10 chefs and brew masters for the taste event of the year.

Local businessman Carlos Soares is the man behind the vision for Barley & Smoke. He recalls the time he was diagnosed with cancer as a young man, walking into the cancer clinic with his father — his dad’s arm around his shoulder. Now Carlos is the father and he finds it difficult to even imagine a similar scenario with one of his kids. It’s just too painful too entertain. That’s why Carlos decided to organize Barley & Smoke with 100 per cent of proceeds going to Kids Cancer Care.

Carlos Soares, the man behind the vision for Barley & Smoke, samples one of many delicious BBQ ribs and slider pairings.

“Helping kids battle cancer is very close to my heart,” says Carlos Soares, founder and president of Divine Flooring and a Platinum sponsor for Barley & Smoke. “I suffered from advanced cancer as a young adult and know first-hand the struggle and the challenges. I was able to overcome it and I don’t want any child to have to go through what I endured.” 

Barley & Smoke was his answer.

For the cost of a $50 ticket, guests were free to sample 10 unique BBQ and beer pairings. A panel of celebrity judges selected the winners. While all the BBQ fare and boutique beer were more than delicious, the contest came down to four winners:

  1. Banded Peak Brewing won Best Beer with their Guvamorphology Gose sour beer;
  2. Prairie Dog Brewing won Best Ribs for their St Louis-style pork ribs;
  3. Jane Bond BBQ took the Best Slider award for their 20-hour slow-smoked brisket slider on a Village Brewery barley bun; and
  4. The Best Team award went to Cold Garden and Jane Bond BBQ for their pairing of East Calgary Lager with 20-hour smoked brisket slider.
One of 10 delicious slider and craft beer pairings at Barley & Smoke.

On display at the event, were five boutique reading forts, designed and built by individuals from the home building industry. This is where the guests could cast their votes. The forts were named after zodiac signs to evoke a starry night at Camp Kindle in the foothills. The crowd favourite was the Pisces Fort by LeAnne Bunnell Interiors and Unique Projects, who took the Best Fort prize.

Fort Pisces took first prize for best fort. It is one of five boutique reading forts that were designed and built by individuals in the home-building industry and donated to Camp Kindle.

With 550 guests in attendance and generous sponsorships from the Calgary restaurant, craft beer, home building, financial and legal industries, Barley & Smoke raised $55,700 for Kids Cancer Care. Factor in the extra $60,000 donated in labour and material costs for the reading forts and the total value tops $115,700.

Guests enjoying the BBQ fare.

“The generosity of spirit displayed by these sponsors feels like a miracle right now during this economic downturn,” says Christine McIver, founder and chief executive officer of Kids Cancer Care. “Times have been tough for everyone in this city and the way these industry leaders have pulled together to make this event happen exudes that can-do attitude that Calgary is famous for. It’s so refreshing right now and it couldn’t have come at a better time. We deeply appreciate it.”

Funds raised at Barley & Smoke will go to Kids Cancer Care’s programs designed to help families during their childhood cancer journey.

On behalf of the children and families we serve, Kids Cancer Care extends a heartfelt thanks to the following companies that gave their time, talents and treasure to make the first annual Barley & Smoke a success.

BREWERIES RESTAURANTS SPONSORS
Eighty-Eight
Brewing
Company
Booker’s
BBQ Grill
and Crab
Shack
Calbridge
Homes
Banded Peak
Brewing
Cluck ‘n
Cleaver
Calgary Harley- Davidson
Born Colorado
Brewing
Jane Bond
BBQ
RockCreek
Builders
Cabin Brewing
Company
Nicole
Gourmet
Divine Flooring
Cold Garden
Beverage
Company
Paddy’s
Barbecue &
Brewery
Centura
Legend 7
Brewing Co
SAIT –
Culinary
Campus
Shaw Industries
Group Inc.
The Establishment Brewing Co. Legend 7
Brewing
TD Canada Trust
Paddy’s
Barbeque &
Brewery
Soul
Kitchen
BBQ Co.
Ames Tile & StoneLtd.
Trolley 5 Trolley 5 Broadview Homes
Prairie Dog
Brewing
Prairie Dog Brewing Enterprise Fleet
    Rogers Insurance
    Simple Spaces/
Home Solutions
    Tierra Sol
    Dal-Tile
    Hopewell
Residential
    Excel Homes
    Canyon
Plumbing
    Kingswood
Cabinets
    Sub-Zero,
Wolf & Cove
    Masuch Law

Barley & Smoke tickets go on sale in the spring.

View the Barley & Smoke video here.

Carter Thompson isn’t your average Stampeders fan. He’s an extreme fan. Knowing what a tough year it’s been for Carter, we approached former Stampeder Stu Laird about getting some apparel for him. Little did we know, this simple request would assume epic proportions and become the stuff of dreams.

Mom and Carter are all smiles, even in the face of adversity.

Carter is a nine-year-old boy who is one of the biggest Calgary Stampeders fans you’ll ever meet. He was born with a hereditary heart condition — the same condition that took his father’s life about year ago. As a newborn, Carter went into heart failure and his organs started shutting down. Carter received a heart transplant and for many years he was strong and healthy, but last summer, he began experiencing stomach and back pain. After a trip to the hospital, Carter was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that sometimes develops after transplant.

What followed for Carter were months of intense chemotherapy and isolation. Now in remission, Carter undergoes regular monitoring and follow-up with CT Scans, PET scans and oncology appointments. It’s been a rough road for Carter, but he’s true champion and approaches things with his usual good humour and sunny disposition.

Last December, Deb Osiowy of Kids Cancer Care approached her neighbour Stu Laird, who just happens to be a former Stamps player and one of the biggest-hearted persons you’ll ever meet.

“I told Stu about this sweet little boy named Carter and what he was going through,” says Deb, chief financial officer at Kids Cancer Care. “I told him how Carter was the biggest Stamps fan and asked Stu if he could help us get some Stamps apparel for Carter. It was Stu who took the ball and ran with it from there. I had no idea it would ever become so big.”

Carter wearing is signed Calgary Stampeders helmet with Grey Cup

Although 2018 was a tough year for Carter, it was an auspicious year too, because in November, his favourite football team would win the Grey Cup. As a former Stampeder and community leader, Stu was granted access to the Grey Cup for a narrow window of time. When Deb approached him in December, he decided then and there to share that time with Carter.

“I really just wanted to make a little boy smile,” said Stu. “I never imagined it would become such a big event, but everyone wanted to do more, so we just ran with it.”

Working with people from Kids Cancer Care, the Calgary Stampeders, Carter’s mom and teachers at École Olds Elementary School, Stu arranged to deliver the Grey Cup to Carter’s school on one of the stormiest days of the year. Although there was a slight delay on the Grey Cup handoff in Calgary, because of weather, a convoy of vehicles left Calgary for Olds in the early morning of February 11. All for Carter.

Carter and the gang before the big event

The school gymnasium and hallways were plastered with red and black banners, sporting words of hope and encouragement for Carter: “Grey Cup Party for Carter.” “We’re on Team Carter!” “Fight for Carter.”

Five hundred and thirty two children cheered as the procession filed into the gym — Carter Thompson, Ryan Sceviour, Jay McNeil and Stu Laird of the Calgary Stampeders and Deb Osiowy of Kids Cancer Care. Finally, two Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers, dressed in full regalia, carried in the Grey Cup. Carter was smiling from head to toe. The students thundered their applause and support.

Carter announcing he’s on “probation,” meaning remission!

While the Stampeders and Grey Cup were certainly worth celebrating, it was Carter who stole the day.

“Carter, do have some good news to share with us?” asked Randy Kish, Carter’s gym teacher and a key organizer of the event.

“I’m on probation?” Carter looked up at his teacher quizzically, unable to retrieve the correct word amid all the excitement.

“Well, it’s kind of like probation,” Randy responded. “But I think you mean remission, right?”

Carter agreed, all smiles and nods. The crowd went wild, storming their cheers and applause.

Carter’s mother Tracy Thompson couldn’t be prouder of her son: “I asked Carter how he felt the other night about the Grey Cup coming and he said, ‘Mom, it reminds me of cancer. There’s a lot of battles. It’s like that game that you have to play so hard. Knowing I’m in remission is like winning the Grey Cup.'”

Hosting the Grey Cup at their school was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. It was one brutally cold morning when Albertans came together to show a little boy they care. It took a groundswell of community support and a bunch of big-hearted individuals who dared to do more – for Carter.

Carter and his grade-four class. Go #TeamCarter!

Thank you to the Calgary Stampeders and École Olds Elementary School for creating this magical day for Carter!

Transforming lives: building a volunteer legacy

“I want them to know they are changing lives at Camp Kindle. Kids can develop and grow with all that encouragement, support and commitment. There are small wins and big wins that will change the course of a child’s life forever. I believe this for Levi!”— Levi’s mom Cheryl

Jack Perraton was known as the ultimate volunteer, and among his many volunteer roles was his nine-year term as chair of the Kids Cancer Care Board of Directors. During Jack’s term, the foundation experienced tremendous growth, and the crowning achievement of those years was the purchase and planned renovation of Camp Kindle.

Sofia walks with a one-to-one volunteer aide at camp

When Jack passed away in February 2012, after his second battle with cancer, his good friend JR Shaw of Shaw Communications decided to do something special in his memory — something that would honour Jack and the life he lived. Jack had passed away before the renovation of Camp Kindle could be completed, and JR felt that completing it in his name would be a lasting tribute to Jack’s spirit and generosity.

“Jack was the ultimate giver, the ultimate volunteer,” JR said during a 2013 reception to honour his friend and celebrate the opening of the Jack Perraton Volunteer Lodge at Camp Kindle. “He set an example for all of us and his footprints, I’m sure, are everywhere here. He would be so proud to have his name on this volunteer lodge.”

Along with Jack’s footprints will be those of countless volunteers to come — volunteers who will also leave a lasting impression in the lives of children with cancer. With a charitable contribution to our 2017 volunteer program, Shaw Communications is helping keep the volunteer legacy alive by providing the necessary resources to attract and maintain the best volunteers at Kids Cancer Care.

Kids Cancer Care volunteer Shellan shows off our new Shaw volunteer gear.

“Volunteers are the heart and soul of Kids Cancer Care,” says Christine McIver, who started the foundation over 20 years ago as a volunteer. “We are so grateful for this gift from Shaw Communications. It is the perfect way to keep Jack’s volunteer spirit and legacy alive, while helping us to recruit, train and retain volunteers for tomorrow.”

Eleven-year-old Levi is one of many kids to experience the lasting influence of volunteers in his life. Diagnosed with high-risk leukemia at 18 months, Levi endured repeated rounds of chemotherapy that lasted until he was five years old. Although Levi is cancer-free today, survival came at a cost. He suffers from high levels of anxiety and neurocognitive issues that are affecting his ability to learn and function at optimal levels. Levi’s psychologist believes he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder due to the invasive medical procedures he received as an infant.

For years, staying overnight at Camp Kindle was out of the question for Levi. The thought of being away from home for a whole week was just too stressful. Each time he tried, his anxiety got the best of him and he came home from camp mid-week. With energetic coaxing from his parents, Levi decided to give Camp Kindle another try.

After a couple of rough patches on Monday and Tuesday, and repeated telephone conversations with his mother, Levi reluctantly agreed to stay on until Wednesday. Meanwhile, his mother Cheryl and Levi’s counsellors met by telephone each night to explore ways to help him manage his anxiety. When Cheryl spoke with Levi on Wednesday evening, she couldn’t believe the transformation in her son.

Levi hangs out with a camp program volunteer

“I could hear joy and confidence in his voice. He was proud of himself!” she says.

Levi’s victory at Camp Kindle is now spilling over into other parts of his life. “Getting that psychological demon off his back was huge,” Cheryl says. “It’s a total game-changer. He gained so much that week at Camp Kindle that he’s riding off now to face other fears.”

Finding the perfect complement of volunteers at Camp Kindle is essential to a child’s camp experience, and the nature of the role requires rigorous screening and intense training.

“The time and resources dedicated to recruiting and training these volunteers is significant, so retention is also a huge focus for us,” says Tracey Stahn, who oversees the volunteer program at Kids Cancer Care. “Shaw’s support will go a long way to helping us achieve these complementary goals.”

Thanks to companies like Shaw Communications, kids with cancer will continue to feel the lasting impact of volunteers at camp and at every stage in the cancer journey. Volunteers are active on all fronts of the foundation, from volunteer cooks who prepare home-cooked meals for newly diagnosed families, to one-to-one camper aides who provide extra support at camp, and specialized tutors who support children struggling at school. Shaw’s gift to the volunteer program will leave a legacy of giving in the hearts of children with cancer.

A proudly Canadian company, Shaw is committed to improving the lives of Canadian kids and youth through the Shaw Kids Investment Program (SKIP). To learn more about SKIP, visit Shaw.ca/SKIP.


Volunteers in action at Kids Cancer Care
On the frontlines at camp or behind the scenes at our fundraising events, 300+ volunteers are active at all levels of the foundation. They are the heart and soul of our work, giving over 16,000 hours each year.

Thank you to our generous fundraising partners who make our programs and services possible